I think now that he was throwing me a break by not letting me off the bass, but I wasn't sophisticated enough then to know it.

—Steve Kirby, musician

In the fall of 1993, I decided to move to New
York City. I had done a lot of research and had some target spots for jam
sessions which produced gigs.

On top of my list was the Dean Street Café in
Brooklyn. I didn't know who was running the session but I knew the routine: go down there, talk my way into playing, then
hang out at the bar talking to people to get a gig. That's just how I thought
it worked.

When I got to the Dean Street Café, it was
a little dive, and people were stacked outside waiting. Inside it was thick
with people. I edged in the door, worked my way through the mobs of people, and
stood next to the bass player. I listened to a tune or two, then this sax
player comes over to me and says, "Hey, you wanna play bass?" He goes to the
mic, thanks the last bass player, asks my name, and puts me on the bass.

The first tune they called was "Cherokee".
I had just learned that tune but hadn't played it, so I didn't really know it. It was upstairs (which is
jazz-speak for crazy fast), and I think there were about twelve sax players and
trumpet players, and the piano wanted to solo. Everybody took multiple choruses
so I played "Cherokee," upstairs, for maybe half an hour, on my first jam
session in New York City. I was worn out! Then they changed the drummer and
called another tune--and it went on like that for seven or eight tunes. I was on
the bass for three hours that night, and I was mad because I wanted to schmooze
and meet some people and get some gigs.

I think now that he was throwing me a break
by not letting me off the bass, but I wasn't sophisticated enough then to know
it.

Fast forward to this spring. Craig Bailey,
this veteran saxophonist from New York, is being interviewed for this year's
Artist-in-Residence gig in the Jazz Studies faculty. He tells this exact story!
So now I know that the hotshot running that jam at the Dean Street Café was
none other than Craig Bailey.

I'm thrilled that Craig is joining us this
year. What's special about him, besides his deep love for the culture and
tradition of jazz, besides his high level improvisational skills--he's a monster
player!--and besides his accomplishments writing and arranging for large and
small ensembles, what's special is that this guy is a naturally gifted nurturer
of musicians.

He's the kind of person who is always in that position of helping
young musicians learn things, doing outreach shows, sharing his love for the
music. As I saw all those years ago at the Dean Street Café, he loves a jam
session--he wants to see young people dig in and find their voices.

He's going to be a great addition to our
faculty this year. He's a brilliant player--you can hear Cannonball Adderley in
him, and Sonny Stitt, and of course Bird's language, but also some Johnny
Hodges. He's got some modern language too. His experience with Ray Charles has
taught him the value of entertaining--he's got deep pockets in the blues area.

I'm especially looking forward to having
him down at The Cool Wednesday Night Hang each week. We always have a great
time over there, but I'm sure adding a jam master to the ticket will heighten
the experience a few notches.

I hope all of you will find yourself free on a
Wednesday evening and come down to enjoy the music and the repartee, and
support our young musicians as they get ready to fly on their own.

Check out Craig Bailey, then welcome him to
our city...

This article appeared in the Sept-Oct issue of dig! magazine, Winnipeg's bi-monthly jazz periodical.